We recently had the chance to connect with Ilona Blake and have shared our conversation below.
Ilona, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Being in the water always gives me joy and helps me find my inner peace. It makes me forget life’s turmoil and helps me ground myself again. I enjoy sharing this passion, as well as teaching about ocean conservation and being safe in the water with a mermaid tail. I also love sharing a little bit of mermaid magic with children, performing for them and with them at parties.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ilona Blake. I grew up on the edge of the North Sea in Germany. Mermaids have always been part of my culture and I’ve always love the water. I learned to swim very early on and was always known as a water baby. If there was water, I was in it. Fast forward to when my daughter was 8 and swimming in mermaid tails became a thing-we bought matching tails. We spent hours splashing around in our pool. In 2023 an opportunity was brought to me to perform at a party with a few other mermaids and the rest is history. I became a certified mermaid and then mermaid instructor through SSI and PADI and now I can professionally share my passion with others, by teaching them how to enjoy being mermaids, feeling confident in the water, being safe while in the water and potentially saving a mermaid life!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Trust is the most important thing when it comes to bonding with people. Once it’s broken, there is no going back. It certainly comes into play when you are in the water and you basically have your feet tied together. You have to be able to trust your instructor or your partner, since your life might be on the line. Therefore it is very important to take a mermaid safety course, before you put on that tail on and get in the water. You also have to trust yourself, not to go beyond your limits!
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that I am stronger than I ever thought I was. It taught me that I am a fighter and I will not be beaten down. I will fight for what I believe in and will help others do the same!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that honesty and integrity matter to me most. Do what you say you’re going to do and follow through! Words do not matter, if you can’t back them up with your actions!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I would hope they would tell about the love and passion I had for others. I would love for them to say that I had a light that was shining to brighten their days just a little and that I had compassion to always make sure that I was able to spread love and joy and sprinkle a little mermaid magic on the side.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: WishUponAShell
- Linkedin: WishUponAShell
- Facebook: WishUponAShell
- Yelp: WishUponAShell
Image Credits
Lilla Bordas Photos, Wild artis Photography and Jesse Dinkins
